Children’s Home Foundation Fund Grant Guidelines

The mission of the Children’s Home Foundation Fund, a fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities, is to provide aid to economically disadvantaged children in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.

Grant Amount

Up to $6,000

Applications Open: November 1, 2024

Applications Close: February 1, 2025

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History

The Children’s Home Foundation began as “The Children’s Industrial Home Association of Harrisburg, Penna.” in 1923.
The Home’s name was amended in 1927 to “The Children’s Home of Harrisburg”.
The original purpose of the Home was “the amelioration and improvement of the condition of children who are destitute and indigent”
The institution was operated as a home for children and as an adoption placement service for children until 1947, when the home was closed and the foundation was formed.
Over the intervening years, the Children’s Home Foundation has operated as a private foundation and has distributed over $500,000 to charities serving children in the tri-county area.
In 2017, the Children’s Home Foundation transitioned from a private foundation to a fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities and amended its name to The Children’s Home Foundation Fund, a fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities.

Funding Priorities

Funding is restricted to programs serving disadvantaged children in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties. Multi-year funding requests will be considered, but may be granted conditioned upon investment return, confirmation of matching funds identified by the Grantee, and/or the availability of foundation funds (in the years following the initial year of funding).

In accordance with this mission, funding will be given in the following areas (not in order of priority):

Cultural enrichment and the arts
Education
Human services, especially programs which address needs for food, clothing, and shelter

Grant Eligibility

The Children’s Home Foundation Fund will make grants that serve to provide aid to economically disadvantaged children in Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties.
This opportunity is available to nonprofit organizations federally determined as 501(c)(3) entities.
Applicants without 501(c)(3) status may engage a fiscal sponsor to administer their grant funds. If using a fiscal sponsor, you must follow the additional “Fiscal Sponsor” instructions below.
In order to be considered eligible for future funding, grantees must provide a final grant use report to the Children’s Home Foundation Fund when all funds have been expended but no later than sixty (60) days following completion of the project.
Unexpended grant funds must be returned to the Children’s Home Foundation Fund but no later than sixty (60) days following the completion of the project.

Grant Timeline

November 1, 2024: Application available.
February 1, 2025: All application materials must be submitted online.
Applicants will be notified of their status by June 1, 2024.
Proposed projects may take place at any time during the grant year beginning July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025.

**The fund offers one grant round annually.

What We Do Not Fund

Advertising*
Capital campaigns
Direct lobbying to influence legislation or funding appropriations*
Individuals
National and statewide umbrella organizations that cannot demonstrate a local presence
New staff positions without a substantial plan for sustainability
Religious organizations for religious purposes
Retroactive projects

*Grant proposals that include these should describe the scope, purpose and guidelines.

Criteria for Evaluating Proposals

The Children’s Home Foundation Fund Advisory Committee makes all grantmaking decisions and consists of a dedicated group of individuals committed to our regional arts communities. The Committee may request additional information about the grant proposal prior to making an award or denial.

Below is a list of the criteria utilized to evaluate applications.

- (20) – Connection to the Mission of the Children’s Home Foundation Fund
  - Need and target audience is clearly stated.
  - Narrative provides a clear picture of all proposed actions and activities.
  - Project/program dates and locations are clearly addressed and anticipated.

- (5) – Roles and responsibilities are defined and work to strengthen/enhance the project.
  - Partnerships, collaborations, services and affiliations are clearly defined if applicable.

- (5) – Funding:
  - Project has a funding diversification plan and is not 100% dependent upon grant award.
  - Budget Worksheet clearly defines where awarded funds will be applied.
- (10) – Project success is clearly defined and measurable.
  - Goals are measurable and anticipated outcomes are clearly defined.

- (10) – Diversity Equity and Inclusion:
  - Project demonstrates how it will be inclusive/accessible to all applicable audiences.
  - The board, staff and/or volunteers reflect the community and the people being served.
- 50 TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE

Would you recommend funding this project? Yes/No

Resources

Application Tutorial
- How to register and apply
Draft Reviews
- Applicants may request a draft review of their application up to 2 weeks prior to the deadline. To request a draft review contact the Community Investment Team, at grants@tfec.org.

If you should have any questions regarding TFEC grant opportunities or your application, please contact the Community Investment Team, at grants@tfec.org or 717-236-5040. Questions are welcome at any time!